It's already a case of one-in-one-out at Chelsea and the summer transfer window is not even open yet. After just two days of reflection over one of the worst Premier League seasons for any of the big six, the Blues aren't hanging around in ensuring that it does not repeat itself.
Mauricio Pochettino has finally been announced as the new head coach, ending weeks of purgatory waiting for fans keen to move on from the horrors of 2022/23. His imminent arrival is already taking effect on the club as they prepare for a much changed outlook heading into the new season.
It's less than 75 days before the campaign kicks off and, although it seems like a lot, there is plenty to be decided and acted upon in the coming weeks and months. By sheer volume Chelsea have one of the busiest summers of any team ahead and that is despite only three main areas of reinforcement being identified.
READ MORE: Chelsea have already found Joao Felix transfer replacement as Mauricio Pochettino 'confirms' deal
Selling on those who have failed one time too many times is the primary goal to start with but Pochettino also has his eyes set on getting key players in through the door in time for pre-season and effective adaptation to the club. Top of the list for movement is set to be the frontline.
Chelsea are able to field more than an entire starting XI of attackers from those part of the squad or on loan and that is without adding the incoming Christopher Nkunku to the list. They have made a choice to leave Joao Felix out of things, reducing the options somewhat, but it is still a claustrophobic fight for spots.
The 23-year-old featured from the bench against Newcastle in what turned out to be his final game for the club as Atletico Madrid CEO Enrique Cerezo said: “We have been informed that Poch does not count with João Félix for Chelsea. He will return here, we’ll see, we’ve nothing planned."
After stumping up £11m to loan Felix for six-months, his four goals and inconsistent returns haven't been enough to convince the new sporting directors or Pochettino that he is what is needed to take the club forward. It is the first of many expected departures from Stamford Bridge and settles a point of some debate for fans before it has even arisen truly.
What it does do is open up a potential slot in the squad for another player to take hold of. Felix was largely a mainstay - when available - and operated in a mixture of roles between an orthodox forward, false nine, shadow striker and even at times off the flanks.
It sums up the predicament at Chelsea that another talented player didn't come to have a defined role but also represents a continuation of his image as a player from Atletico Madrid. That is not to worry about for any longer, though.
Chelsea now have Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke as players that wish to play around the frontline but not as central forward in the most basic sense. Carney Chukwuemeka and Conor Gallagher have also played across a front three or supporting line of attack. Mason Mount is in the same camp and N'Golo Kante has been used as a rogue option there as well.
Pulisic, though, is perhaps a player that missed out most due to Felix. He has long been the next option from the squad to play in wide areas or even shunted around when asked. Felix was just another player ahead of him in the squad to block his minutes and path to recovery.
It is noticeable that in the six-months on the same side they only played 106 minutes together and only started one game at the same time. Not that they were direct replacements, but Felix either took up a spot that could have been Pulisic's or the system was changed to accomodate his skillset.
Pulisic is certainly one player that won't miss being without Felix, then again, it might not make the most difference. Pulisic is still expected to leave the club and Nkunku's arrival shows why. It is already a case of one player out and one ready to fill the void and the USMNT star's position has been uncertain before Felix's departure was confirmed.
Towards the end of the season Pulisic had been relegated to seventh choice with Ziyech in the same boat. Even if Felix, Ziyech and Havertz leave there would still be at least four players ahead of him with the potential for Mount and Gallagher to fight for the spot as well.
It's far from an ideal situation and the most likely outcome is still for Pulisic to follow Felix out the door. His move, and the speed in which Pochettino moved to make it with the Portugal star, also indicates that it might not be long before the American is headed in the same direction.
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